HUMANS OF AMS – Jobhunting featuring Emma

Hi Emma! First of all, thank you for coming. Could you shortly introduce yourself?

Hello I am Emma. I am 23years old and I graduated last year at the Gent University in Communication Science and Management. This year, I am studying the Master in Management at AMS.

Why did you choose to study an extra Master at AMS?

I decided to study an extra year because I wanted to expand my economic knowledge and I wanted to gain some practical insides of the business world. Also, I didn’t feel I was ready to enter the job market yet and I wanted to study one more year.

How do you like your year at AMS so far?

I like it a lot. I already met a lot of fun people, and almost all of my classes are interesting. I have the feeling that I am learning a lot especially by doing and not only by studying in books. Also, I think that I developed myself as person by identifying my strengths and weaknesses and how to present these in front of potential employers.

How is your applying for jobs process going?

It is going well, actually I signed a contract a few weeks ago.

Congratulations! Which function and at which company did you get a job?

I signed a contract as a Market Visionaries Trainee at AB InBev. It’s a traineeship in Sales and Marketing for 1,5 year. It consists out of a sales assignment of 1,5 year and at the same time a marketing or sales project for six months.

Why did you choose to apply for a traineeship instead of a fixed position?

In general, companies are organizing traineeships to recruit their future leaders at an early stage after their graduation. I am really ambitious and I choose for a traineeship because I hope to learn a lot and to be able to be good in what I want to do after the traineeship.

How was the application process?

Since AB InBev is a big company, off course they have to eliminate a lot of candidates. In total, there were four rounds: online tests, video-interview, assessment day and a final panel interview. For me the most difficult stages were the last two. The assessment day was an intense day where you had to show the best version of yourself. It consisted out of a business game, a personal interview and a sales exercise. The final panel was an interview with multiple candidates and managers of AB Inbev at the same table. That was very intense.

Do you think that the fact that you chose for an extra master at AMS helped you to get this job?

First of all, I don’t think I would have heard about the traineeship if I wouldn’t have studied at AMS. I was a graduate last year as well, but the traineeship program didn’t come to my ear back then. AB Inbev did a presentation about their traineeships at AMS and that’s how I found out about it and applied. Secondly, I think AMS helped me to identify myself as a person and to help me find out what kind of job I wanted to do.

Did you also apply for other jobs?

No not really because it is still really early and AMS is organizing events where you can meet companies all the time. I started some applications for other companies but once I got the job I quit those because AB Inbev had my preference since the start.

Could you give some tips in applying for a job?

It is important to always try even if you do not believe you will get the job. Be yourself and try to be as honest as possible in all stages when applying for a job. That’s how you can find out if there really is a fit between you and the company. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you feel comfortable and happy in your work environment by being yourself.

That’s some very good advice to keep in mind! Thank you for your time and good luck with the rest of the year and your future job!